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M. AUDIPFRBN.

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REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

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EL) M JHM Patented Dec. 10, 1895.

ANDREW BAGRAHAM,PITD-U'MQWMNINGTOMDC.

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RBPRIGBRATING APPARATUS; No. 551,107. Paten-ted Deo. 110, 14895.

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No. 551,107. Patented Dec. 10, 1895.

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UNrTED STATES* PATENT OFFICE.

MARCEL AUDIFFREN, OF GRASSE, FRANCE.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.V 551,107, dated December 10, 1895.

Application filed February 12, 1895. Serial No. 538,140. (No model.) Patented in France May 31,1894, No. 238,845 in Germany October 31, 1894, No. 82,814; in Belgium November 3,1894, No. 112,536; in England November 17,1894, No. 22,279; in Italy December 22, 1894, XXIX, 37,840, LXXIV, 185, and in Spain December 29, 1894, No. 16,809.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, MARCEL AUDIFrRnN,

professor, a citizen of the Republic of France, y and a resident of Grasse, in the Republic of My invention relates to refrigeratingappa` ratus of the kind operating by expansion and compression of elastic fluids, such as ammonia, sulphurous anhydride, or the like; and it has chiefly for its object to obviate all the losses which have heretofore been caused in all apparatus of this kind.

The said invention also relates to an improved mode of construction of the apparatus and to their application to industrial and domestic uses.

The improved apparatus is represented in the accompanying` drawings in a convenient form for domestic purposes; but it will be easy to deduce therefrom the construction adapted for industrial uses.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus through the axis of rotation, the pump being shown in dotted lines only. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view showing the arrangement of the pump. Fig. 3 is a transverse section perpendicular to the axis. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan of the apparatus drawn to a reduced scale. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus actuated by a rotary pump. Fig. 6 is a transverse section perpendicular to the axis. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views, the former being a front view of an automatic valve and the latter a sectional view thereof on line'8 8 of Fig. 7.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the apparatus comprises two metallic lenticular receptacles R and C, hermetically closed and connected, as shown in Fig. 1, by a tube T, which establishes communication between -other serves as a refrigerator.

them. One of the receptacles is larger than the other and serves as a condenser, while the The mode of adaptation of the tube T to the sides of the receptacles may be of any desired kind. It is sufficient that strength and tightness should be secured. The system represented in the drawings fulfills these two conditions by the lateral soldering of the nuts. The aforesaid tube T is prolonged for five or six centimeters into the condenser C. In front and on the opposite side is a shaft A, prolonged for some centimeters outside the condenser and terminated by an exterior crank M. Counterbrackets d may be fixed upon the sides for strengthening the tube T and shaft A. The whole apparatus is supported by the exterior parts of the tube T and shaft A, forming journals in bearings in the edges of a water-receptacle E, into which half the condenser dips. Thus the refrigerator R, tube T, shaft A, and condenser C are rigidly united, and they are actuated by the turning of the said crank M. All the said parts are perfectly secured one l tothe other, so as to render the whole apparatus perfectly tight. The refrigerator is filled to about one-third with a very volatile liquid, preferably sulphurous anhydride.

In the interior of the condenser is arranged a suction and force pump which draws the vapors from the liquid contained in the refrigerator R an d forces them around the condenser and on the sides, where they condense.A The vaporization of the liquid produces a lowering of temperature in the refrigeratonwhich is communicated to the Water or to an incongealable liquid contained in a box D, into which the refrigerator dips.

The heat resulting from the condensation of the steam in the condenser C is absorbed by the water in the said receptacle E, which is renewed according to requirements. The vaporization and condensation are greatly promoted by the rotary movement of the apparatus, which energetically stirs the interior and exterior liquids.

In the interior of the condenser is arranged a mass or lump of cast-iron or of lead Z, Fig. 1, of sufficient weight for preventing the pump from participating in the rotary movement of the apparatus, and which is made of the form IOO of the bottom of the condenser. This mass or lump is suspended by two arms B B, one placed upon the aforesaid tube T and the other upon the shaft A. Two brackets or standards K K, iixed to the mass or lump Z, receive the journals n it of the double-acting oscillating cylinder II; This cylinder is an ordinary pump-body provided with two suction valves g g and with two delivery-valves g g. A piston P, with metallic packing, is connected by its metallic rod .I to the interior crank m, keyed upon the shaft A. The j ourn alfn is hollow and firmly fixed upon the valvechamber g g. A pipeN passes with little friction at one end into the before-mentioned tube T and at the other end into the journal fn, setting the refrigerator in communication with the valve-chamber. Its insert-ion with little friction enables the tube T to turn without carrying away the said pipe'N and the cylinder h to oscillate freely, while insuring a sufficient tightness for the communication of the refrigerator and valve-chamber.

In an apparatus constructed as herein set forth, the only escapes possible being produced in the interior, it follows that the pump is not necessarilya precision apparatus. The interior escapes have only the inconvenience of diminishing the mechanical production. They may, however, be reduced to a large eX- tent by the following arrangement: The stuifing-box may be made as a simple sleeve I, iixed upon the cover of the cylinder, and in which slides the piston-rod .I with little friction. The interior of this sleeve is hollowed out in such manner as to forln a circular chamber 7L around the piston-rod J. The side of this chamber is pierced with a hole, into which is fitted a pipe t, terminating at the bottom of the condenser and following freely the oscillations of the cylinder. The extremity of this pipe dips into the cylinder and always remains at the bottom of the condenser. hen under these circumstances the piston moves downward, the pressure, being smaller in the cover, diminishes also in the chamber 7i. by reason of the escape from the sleeve. The compressed vapor from the condenser then causes the liquid to rise as far as the circular chamber 7L, in which the said pipe t terminates. This liquid forms a joint and at the same time abundantly lubricates the piston -red J. Moreover, the small amount of liquid which passes into the cylinder will perfectly lubricate the pistoirpackin gs.

Then at the end of an operation all the liquid has passed from the refrigerator R to the condenser C, an automatic valve closed during the rotation by the centrifugal force opens by the action of the weight and ena-bles the liquid in the condenser C to return to the refrigerator R. The construction of this valve is represented in Figs. 7 and 8. A well straightened or planed plate ,e is fixed by its edge against a side of the refrigerator as far as possible from the axis of the apparatusfor instance, at L-and in a plane perpendicular to this axis. To the smooth face of the said plate is attached another plate r, likewise planed and adapted to move about a pivot a. A screw-nut c, by means of a spring, presses the two plates sufficiently one against the other. The second plate r, which is narrower than the plate z, is prolonged on one side and terminates in a small mass or weight y of some hectograins. The plate r is limited in its rotary movement about the aforesaid pivot c by two stops b b. Two elongated openings c c are pierced, one in the plate .e and the other in the plate r, and they coincidewhen the edge of the movable plate r is in contact with the stop b nearest to the axis, while all communication is intercepted when the same plate bears against the other stop b. A pipe F extends from the opening o in the plate z and passes into the tube T, whose diameter is larger than the said pipe, so as to leave an annular space around the same sufficient for the passage of the vapor. This pipe F passes laterally through an opening in the tube T, which opening is hermetically closed by the said pipe F, which terminates near the bottom of the condenser.

If the apparatus is caused to turn, the mass or weight y, by virtue of the centrifugal power, forces the plate r against the stop b', and the communication between the refrigerator and the condenser is intercepted. If the rotary motion is discontinued, it is sufcient to turn the crank M into such a position that a guide-mark L on the refrigerator R will be above, in order that the mass y by its own Weight shall force the plate r against the stop b, so as to establish the communication. The pressure which prevails in the condenser is su flicient for forcing away all the liquid which is above the orifice of the said pipe F. This automatic valve may of course be replaced by any other apparatus which gives the same result-that is to say, which causes the liquid in the condenser to return into the refrigerator.

In a modified arrangement (shown in Figs. 5 and 6) the suction and force pump is replaced by a simple rotary-pinion pump. In this case the shaft a and tube T2 are firmly united. Ipon the shaft a is keyed a pinion P2 of the pump, which is suspended by its cheeks from the shaft a. The weight Z2 is attached to the pump by a prolongation of the cheeks. The sleeve m2, wherein the large tube T'2 turns with little friction, is fixed to or forms part of the cheek of the pump. The lateral opening of this tube T2 terminates in an annular chamber formed in the sleeve. The side of this chamber receives the suctionpipe N2, which is fixed at the other end to the pump and opens into the suction-chamber e. From the delivery-chamber the vapor is forced through another tube K2, which descends tothe side of a condenser without touching it, a little above the said mass or weight Z2. A third pipe t', of somewhat smaller size, also terminates in the suction- IOO IIO

. chamber z' and passes downward to the bottom of the condenser through or by the side of the mass or weight Z2, so as to dip into the liquid,which remains permanently in the condenser. The cylinder of this rot-ary pump is shown at I-I2 and the weight-supports at B2.

The plane occupied by the shafts of the pinions forms an angle of about forty-five degrees with the horizontal plane, so that during the operation the mean position of this plane is nearly horizontal. This combination facilitates the lubrication of the pinions. In fact, during the rotation the pinions, turning in the direction of the arrows, draw the vapor from the refrigerator R and compress it in the condenser C. The pressure being smaller in the suction-chamber z than in the condenser, the liquid rises through the pipe t into the interior of the pump and lubricates the pinions. The supply ofthis liquid is regulated by the small size of the pipe t. It must only be a small fraction of the volume of the liquid which circulates with it in the pump.

By reason of the approximate horizontality of the plane of the pinions the lubricating liquid occupies the passages through which the escape might take place, particularly those of the teeth, which engage with each other and form a partition between the two chambers x and z', and also at the intervals between the circular sides of the pump and the top of the teeth.

After an operation it is sufficient to turn the crank backward in order to force the liquid into the refrigerator, unless use is made of a return pipe, operated as hereinbefore set forth, or through a cock operated from the outside.

My improved apparatus, which I have described, is specially designed for domestic uses, the crank being turned by hand; but I may also place it in a casing with non-heatconducting sides and operate it mechanically by the aid of weights or otherwise acting upon a series of toothed wheels, so as to always maintain the temperature of the casing below zero.

This apparatus may also be applied to indu strial purposes by increasing its dimensions and actuating it by means of an engine.

lVhat I claim isl. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a rotary casing with a refrigerating chamber and a condensing chamber connected together and a pump arranged within one chamber and adapted to transfer the fluid from one chamber to the other, said pump being operated relation to each other and connected, the receptacles D, E into which the chambers depend, adapted respectively to contain the liquid to be frozen and the cooling liquid for the condenser, said chambers being arranged to rotate and the pump arranged to transfer the refrigerant from one chamber to the other, substantially as described.

4:. In combination in a refrigerating apparatus, the refrigerating and condensing chambers arranged to rotate and having a hollow axial connection between them and the condensing pump arranged to transfer the fluid from one chamber through the axle to the other, substantially as described.

5. In combination in a refrigerating apparatus, the refrigerating and condensing chambers arranged to rotate and the pump arranged in one chamber and weighted to maintain its position therein and means for rotating the chambers and thereby operating the pump, substantially as described.

6. In combination, the two chambers connected together and arranged to rotate, and the pump arranged in one chamber and connected with the rotary axle to be operated therefrom, said pump being adapted to transfer the refrigerating fluid from one chamber to the other, substantially as described.

'7. In combination in a refrigerating apparatus, the refrigerating chamber, the condensing chamber, the pump in the condensing chamber with connections for operating the same and the pipe extending from the pump into the liquid in the condenser whereby the said liquid will rise into the pump and lubricate the same, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of January, 1895. l

MARCEL AUDIFFREN. [L e] Witnesses:

W. INGRAHAM HALL, MARCUS Guo. GAsTAND.

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